Queensland Reds coaching boss Ewen McKenzie is destined to be the next big name to leave Australian rugby as he has been connected with the Ireland head coaching position.

Northern hemisphere sources have told ESPNscrum today that McKenzie is being strongly considered to take over from Declan Kidney, whose position is under a cloud after Ireland's poor Six Nations campaign.

One high ranking Irish official has even admitted privately that McKenzie 'will be the next Ireland coach.'

McKenzie, who has revealed that he will leave the Reds after the current Super Rugby season to further his hopes of coaching at international level, has every reason to leave the Australian rugby ranks.

The 47-year-old was understandably angry when he discovered via an exclusive story on ESPNscrum in late February that he had no chance of being the next Wallabies coach.

This followed a senior and influential ARU board member making it widely known that he did not want McKenzie as Test coach when the time came to find a replacement for Robbie Deans.

The ARU board member told colleagues: "As long as my backside is pointing to the ground, Ewen McKenzie will not coach Australia. You cannot have a front-row forward in charge of the Wallabies because they know nothing about backline play."